Recitals by nine world's top-tier pianists are the highlight of Shanghai Concert Hall's newly announced performance season, which involves over 200 performances and activities through December.

Among the nine recitals, four are Shanghai debuts, featuring Paul Lewis, Kirill Gerstein, Javier Perianes, and Steven Osborne.

On August 28, Paul Lewis will kick off the series with his "Mozart+" concert. The British pianist, who has served as jury chairman of both the Van Cliburn and Leeds International Piano Competitions, excels in interpreting the core repertoire of Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. His Shanghai concert will center on Mozart's sonatas, paired with works by Poulenc and Debussy, offering both scholarly depth and aesthetic refinement.

Kirill Gerstein will perform on September 21. The Russian pianist is known for blending Austro-German classical traditions with contemporary sensibilities. The concert program will focus on Liszt and Brahms.

On November 7, Javier Perianes, the 2019 ICMA Artist of the Year, will present a concert featuring Spanish gems by Falla and Albéniz alongside Chopin's Romantic works, bringing out the lyrical poetry of Poland and the vibrant Iberian flair.

Steven Osborne's recital has been scheduled for November 29. The Scottish pianist is known for his remarkably diverse repertoire.

The other five pianists giving recitals in the new season are: British duo Benjamin Grosvenor and Sir Stephen Hough; Uzbekistan's Behzod Abduraimov, who returns to the Shanghai Concert Hall after three years; Dmitri Alexeev, winner of the Leeds Piano Competition and a venerable master of the Russian piano school; and French pianist Alexandre Kantorow.

The new performance season also features a rich lineup of chamber music and early music performances – genres the venue is particularly renowned for – presented by a host of internationally acclaimed ensembles.

Swedish violinist Daniel Lozakovich will give the Chinese premiere of his Bach solo violin recital in September.

The Assad Brothers, the world's premier guitar duo, will make their Shanghai debut in November, which also marks one of the stops on the Brazilian siblings' farewell tour.

Tickets for Paul Lewis's recital are already on sale. For more information about the new season and to purchase tickets, please visit the concert hall's official website at www.shanghaiconcerthall.com.cn.

Performance info

Date: August 28, 7:30pm

Tickets: 80-480 yuan

Venue: Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall 上海音乐厅

Address: 523 Yan'an Rd E. 延安东路523号